Characterization of CdGeAs2 grown by the float zone technique under microgravity

One polycrystalline and one single-crystal CdGeAs2 feed rods with 9 mm diam eter were processed by the float-zone technique under microgravity on SPACE HAB-SH04 during the STS-77 Space Shuttle Endeavour mission. An eutectic sal t of LiCl and KCI was used as an encapsulant to suppress Cd and As evaporat ion from the melt. Post-flight chemical, structural, electronic, and optica l characterization of the two samples is presented. Single-crystal growth w as achieved using a seed crystal. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.